Fluid pressure regulator



I Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM C. GROBLE, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB 'IO GROBLE GAS .BEGULA'IOB 130., OF ANDERSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR Application filed December 20, 1930. Serial No. 508,683.

The present invention relates to a fluid pressure regulator of the same general t pe as that disclosed in Groble Reissue Patent 10. 17 ,738, dated July 22, 1930, and more particu- 5 larly to the construction of the end of the regulator lever cooperating with the valve of the regulator.

It is the object of this invention to provide an improved lever for use in a fluid pressure regulator of the above mentioned type which is more economical to manufacture than the construction disclosed in the aforesaid patent, but which still has all of the advantages and functions of the aforesaid construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified gas regulator construction in which the number of parts have been reduced to a practical minimum.

In accordance with the general features of my invention, there is provided a fluid pressure regulator including the usual pressure responsive diaphragm for operating the valve of the regulator and a lever of improved consponsiv'e element and the valve including a bracket portion for aiding in the supporting of the valve and which is formed integral with the lever and comprises a slotted extension of the lever turned back under the lever proper for cooperation with the valve.

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a regulator embodying the features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional View partly in elevation taken on the line II-II of Figure 1 looking downwardly;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view partly in section of the lever and valve connected thereto; and

Figure 4 is a front view partly in section of the valve end of the lever.

In the drawings:

The reference character 10 designates genstruction disposed between. the pressure re-.

erally a casing having inlet and outlet connections 11 and 12 disposed one above the other. One end of the casing is formed open to permit, access to the valve mechanism for adjusting the same and is normally covered by a closure plate 13 suitably secured to the casing.

A diaphragm 15 of usual construction is arranged to be subjected to the pressure of the fluid in the casing 10 and is secured in place by a top cap 16 removably secured to the casing proper by the usual bolt 17. The diaphragm 15 is weighted and is subjected to the pressure of a compression spring 18 which has one of its ends abutting an adjustable screw 19 threaded into a boss 20 for varying the pressure exerted by the spring upon the weighted diaphragm.

Secured to the innermost side of the diaphragm 15 is a plate 21 having formed integral with it an apertured central boss 22 provided with knife bearing portions 23 and 24 for cooperation with one end of a novel lever construction. 25 embodying the features of this invention. This lever construction supports'the valve member 26 of the regulator and the lever and valve member are removable as a unit endwise from the casing 10 through the openin normally covered by the closure plate 13. he lever construction 25 extends between a pair of spaced lugs 27 and 28 (Figure 2) formed integral with the casing 10 and into which is threaded a pivot bolt 30 for pivotally supporting the lever construction in the casing. I shall now proceed to describe in detail the construction of my novel lever and valve unit which embodies the features of this invention. 7

The lever construction25 comprises a metal fabrication having a U-shaped cross section. One end of the lever is notched as indicated at 31 for cooperation with the knife edge hearing portion 23 in such a way that this end of the lever is associated with the dia hragm for movement thereby and yet at t e same time is adapted to be removed endwise from the central boss 22 on the plate 21 of the diaphragm. 7

The other end of the lever is formed with an extension 32 turned back under the lever p iipper for cooperation with the valve 26. is extension 32 is slotted as indicated at 33.

The valve 26 includes the usual disc of leather 34 for engaging the valve seat 35 formed integral with the casing 10 at the inlet connection 11 so that when the valve 26 is seated thereon fluid under pressure cannot enter the casing 10 through the inlet connection 11.

The valve member 26 also has a head 36 which is connected to the'valve by a neck portion 37 having flat sides so as to enable it prevent rotation of the valve.

The head 36 of the'valve 26 is formed with its top convex so that the top will fit in the socket or recess 39 in the lower end of an ad- Justable screw threaded into the lever 25.

Now it will be evident that after the valve member 26 has been connected to the lever extension 32 and slid to a position wherein its head is aligned with the socket 39 of the screw 40 the screw 40 may thereafter be tightened so as to brin the socket into frictional engagement Wit hthe head 36. Since the downward force exerted by the turning of the screw 40 is against the tension of the lever extension 32, it necessarily follows that the inherent resiliency of the extension will tend to aid in holding the head 36 in engagement with the socket 39. Moreover, due to the. convex surface of the top of the head 36 and the concave surface of the socket 39, it will appear that the valve 26 is capable of a limited amount of universal movement with respect to the socket end of the screw 40. Also t e pressure ofthe valve 26 on its seat 35 may be varied by adjusting the screw 40' to vary the pressure of this screw against the extension 32 and the valve 26.

In view of the fact that the operation of a gas regulator of the present type is well known to those familiar with the present art it is thought t at no further description of the operation need be given, especially in view of the fact that the'operation of the regulator is fully evident from the disclosure in the drawings.

Now I desire it understood thatalthough I have illustrated'and described in detail the preferred embodiment of my invention, the

invention is not to be thus limited but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluid pressure regulator, a lever member, a valve member, one of said members being provided with a socket and the other member with a head adapted to seat therein and a spring bracket con'nectedto the lever member provided with a receiving slot therein for the reception of the other member and normally maintaining said head in engagement with the socket under spring pressure while permitting the forcible release or enagement thereof, said spring bracket being integral with said lever and comprising a slotted extension of said lever turned back under the lever proper for cooperation with the valve member.

2. In a fluid pressure regulator, a lever member, a valve member, one of said members being provided with a projecting portion having a socket formed in the end thereof and the other member with a projecting portion having a head formed on the end thereof adapted to seat in said socket, and a bracket connected to the lever member having a slot therein for receiving one of said projections and aiding to maintain said projections in seated relation with respect to each other, the head of one engaging in the socket of the other, said bracket being integral with said lever'and comprising a slotted extension of said lever turned back over the lever proper for cooperation with the valve member. I

3. In a fluid pressure regulator, a lever, a valve, a head mounted on said valve, a neck having flattened sides connecting said head and valve, an adjustable screw extending through said leverand having a recess in one end thereof in which said head is adapted to seat and a bracket connected to the end of said lever provided with a slot therein for receiving the flattened sides of the neck and thereby preventing rotation of said valve, said bracket being integral with said lever and, comprising a slotted extension of said lever turned back over the lever proper for cooperation with the valve to aid in retaining the head in seated relation with the recess of said screw. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Anderson, Indiana. 

